The Menu has been planned
the fridge is stalked,
the wines are chilled
and the table is set with my grandmother’s china and fresh lilacs from the garden.
I had spent the evening before watching Twilight for the third time (i am not ashamed) sampling a bottle of wine to make sure it is ok, while I shucked peas and fava beans. I also made my chicken liver pate. I knew saturday was going to be a whirlwind and i wanted to prepare for the marathon event. When Tselani arrived at 3 she looked at me and said, I hope you are ready to work your ass off.
I WAS READY!!!
Tselani was amazing to work with. She made sure i had my hands in everything and had a soup spoon in my apron at all times for tasting, always tasting and seasoning. I think more then anything else, this was a lesson in seasoning and not being afraid of the salt. We had such a good time.
When i was in Provence I got to stay at a small farm outside of Orange. We spent a very wet day in the kitchen with an incredible 3 star Michelin chef and his wife! While we were prepping our meal, a HUGE thunder and lightening storm swept across the fields. This was one of those storms that make some people nervous!
While Tselani and i were prepping our meal back in Portland, the sky went black and BOOM! we got the same storm! maybe there is something about me, french cooking and storms. it was fantastic! thank god the power didnt go out!
We had 3 hours to prepare our meal and had at least 3 things going at all times. Stacey was put to work when she arrived.
We began with our lavendar honey custard. That had to steep and then cool completely before we could put it in the ice cream maker.
Following soon after, we made our Amuse Bouche; puffed pastry with goat cheese, creme fresh, basil, lime zest and cherry tomato.
We then tackled the carrot soup YUM! this ended up being one of my favorite things because we started with a very simple base of carrots, onion, ginger and chicken stalk. Then added flavor boosters. We added a bit of cream (of course) salt and lemon juice to brighten the flavor. it was awesome! we topped the bowls with a mixture of creme fresh, cardamon and cream. it was perfectly smooth. Carrot soup doesnt need to be strained! such a novelty. The Cardamon was an awesome combination with the Carrots and Ginger.
Next we worked on the pasta. I had never made pasta with cake flour before and with less gluten, the noodles were very light and delicate to compliment the lemon zest and spring veggies. we steamed the peas in vegetable stalk and pureed them with cream (of course). this we set aside to mix into the pasta before serving. the pasta was the most amazing bright yellow from my own chicken eggs! it was AWESOME!
Next we made the profiteroles and popped those in the oven. to keep the edges of the parchment paper down in the convection oven, we put a dab of pastry under each corner…great tip! we washed them with egg before baking.
next we prepped the rabbit for braising. this was the most informative for me. we used the extra bones for a very rich stalk and picked rosemary from the garden before popping the whole pan into the oven. We placed the rabbit over the fresh pasta and added fresh fava beans and asparagus. YUM!
after the rabbit and before dessert, we had fresh arugula with walnut oil and cheeses.
We love cheese 
As everyone arrived, Tselani and I were still busy in the kitchen. I got out a gorgeous bottle of Champagne to accompany the pate to keep people amused.
While we ate, we put the custard in the ice cream maker and settled in for the feast.
I was so lucky to be surrounded by many of my best girlfriends and we all had a great time!
You can tell which of us were cooking by the flush of our cheeks
We had some wonderful wines, but this was my favorite! i have had it before and i still LOVED IT! it was the hit of the party.
We decided that to serve this wine on a first date would lead to amorous events. It is the most seductive wine i have ever tasted.
After dinner, i caught Sami in the soup pot with the only clean spoon in the kitchen, i think it is a baby spoon left from another event.
The next morning, with a wicked hang-over, i got to wash 40 wine glasses and all of the china and silver by hand…and every pot, pan and bowl i own.
It was totally worth it!
When the sun came out on Sunday and with the last bit of energy i could muster, i built myself a chair and napped and read the day away.
i couldn’t get big hair in the 80’s either!
we didnt have karaoke but we did have Amber!
the family that plays together stays together, isnt that an 80’s motto?
i loved those fishnet arm things 
we even put eyeliner on the boy, and look at those big blues 
